Hokule‘a sails into Pearl Harbor on tour of Hawaii

The storied Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule‘a sailed into Pearl Harbor on Saturday, a historic stop on its current Mahalo Hawaii tour of the islands. The event marked the first time in its 42-year history that Hokule‘a has visited the waters of Pearl Harbor.

Three Navy ships — the USS Hopper, USS Chafee and USS Chung Hoon — blew ceremonial whistles as the canoe entered the mouth of the harbor around 8 a.m. The Hokule‘a crew responded by sounding pu (conch shell), according to a news release from the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

Crew members scattered plumeria as the canoe continued past the Halealoha Haleamau burial platform, memorials for the USS Arizona and other ships sunk or damaged during the Pearl Harbor attack, and other historic sites.

The canoe also made a brief stop at Loko Paaiau fishpond, one of only three remaining fishponds out of 22 that used to exist in the Puuloa area, before docking at Rainbow Bay Marina, where the crew was welcomed with chants and a hula performance by students from Aiea High School.

Hokule‘a will remain at the marina until Saturday. Public tours of the vessel will be offered 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A talk-story session with the crew will be held 5 p.m. Thursday at the marina pavilion.